Dear Doctors
I got a bone or two to pick with you. I understand you are busy and your time is limited but I appreciate you taking the time to read this open letter.
I recently changed doctors. Finding a new doctor is hard up here in Canada but I could no longer stay with the doctor I had. When your child is sick and you call to see the doctor telling me you can see my son in 3 weeks is NOT acceptable. After this happening numerous times, this mom decided it was time to find a new doctor. I got real lucky and found one after only 3 months of searching and this doctor will see sick patients in less than 3 weeks.
Another bone to pick. Appointment times! Yesterday I had an appointment with a new gynecologist. Being the good girl I am I got there 30 minutes before my appointment. I park my van to be greeted with a sign that says please pay for parking before entering the building. CRAP! I really hate these things. You never know how long you are going to be stuck in that doctor’s office. I paid for 1.5 hours of parking and headed into the office.
The woman in front of me checks in and admits to being 20 minutes late for her appointment time. DA HECK! Reschedule her! Nope, she takes a seat and is a prime example of why doctors are NEVER on time. I sit there and watch the minutes tick by. Finally at 4:20 I am called into the doctors office. My appointment was for 3:30 and my parking expired at 4:19. I really hope I don’t get a ticket. 4:30 I finally see the doctor. Thankfully I arrive back to my van to not find a parking ticket.
So doctors please try to be on time. Just like your time is limited and precious so is ours. If a patient arrives late rebook them instead of letting them throw off the schedule. Keep appointments limited to the reason they were booked. Don’t turn a 20-minute time slot into a one-hour appointment. There is a reason the receptionist asks the reason for our visit when we call the book an appointment. So that they can book the allotted time needed and keep the doctor on schedule.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. Hopefully, we can all work together to make doctor visits much more pleasurable for all parties.
Signed,
A Frustrated Patient